Barbara Holt

Adjunct Professor of Business Ethics

B Holt Faculty PhotoBarbara Holt is a Human Relations executive whose award-winning programs and innovative leadership initiatives have helped people exceed their personal and organizational best. She teaches several courses in the Social Impact Core (Area) at Stern, including the MBA Professional Responsibility Course, as well as the undergraduate Business and Its Publics and Professional Responsibility and Leadership Courses.

Most recently, Professor Holt has been doing Executive Coaching, and HR consulting for a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, not-for-profits, and individuals. She is currently (Fall 2011) participating as a mentor/advisor in a mentoring program at Brown University.


Prior to this, Professor Holt was a Vice President of Human Resources in charge of Staff Development and Strategic Planning Services at TIAA-CREF, a $400 billion financial services company with 7000+ employees. Combining high-level strategic insight with a practical ability to understand what works, she helped TIAA-CREF navigate successfully through several transitions over three decades.


Professor Holt has served on numerous industry committees including LOMA and the Conference Board and on the boards of The New York Business Group on Health and Kids Base and the Little School, a community school and childcare organization. Also, as a member of the Junior League of New York City, she has participated in its training initiative for boards of not for profit organizations.


A graduate of Brown University, with an M.B.A. in Finance from NYU Stern and an M.A. in Psychology from Columbia, Professor Holt has also attended the University of California (Berkeley/Haas School of Business) Executive Program and holds the CEBS designation.